These companies are making a difference. They are truly supporting our Heroes. They are the sponsors of OPERATION SUCCESS IN ACTION. And we are pleased to announce that another one has joined our ranks! Benjamin Goetz Coaching!

They are Patriots, as demonstrated by their actions. More than just when the stars are out, they are saying “Thanks for a job well done” to our Heroes. Fayetteville, home-grown Patriots! Take a look at our video link above.

Here are the sponsors to-date. When you see them say “thanks for your commitment!”

Today I am compelled and honored to share excerpts from an email that was sent to Roy Spence, my college roommate. Roy is more than a successful businessman. As you read these comments from someone who sent this to Roy, you will see what I mean. Roy delivered a strong message. It was heard by this person whose family has several challenges to face. I want to share it with you.

Back in the Spring of 2010, I had the great pleasure of hearing an incredible speech by Roy Spence, co-founder of GSD&M Advertising Agency in Austin. His speech was about purpose, and it made a tremendous impact on me both professionally and personally. He defined purpose as being: “when your core talents intersect with the needs of the world and those around you – therein lies your purpose, therein lies your calling”.

Roy wrapped up his speech by talking about Robert Frost being right – “there are two roads diverged in a yellow wood and sorry I could not travel both and be one traveler….” Roy went on to say that on the road you choose, you become what you look for: “If you look for ENEMIES, you will find them. If you look for HATE, it will live in your heart. If you look for GOSSIP, it will consume you. If you look for FEAR, it will follow you. On another road, if you look for FRIENDS, you will be befriended. If you look for LOVE, it will lift you up. If you look for TRUTH, it will set you free. And if you look for HOPE, it will take you to higher ground.” That has stuck with me, and Jen and I continue to choose the second road. Faith, Hope, and Love are three things that God gave us – the greatest being LOVE.

“Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” Will Rogers

Keep our eyes open to bumps in the road that are really sink holes. It’s not that the daily grind is a dire situation. It’s just a good idea to be aware of things we can do to ourselves to slow our progress toward the success we seek. So here are a few of those things. Keep a sharp eye open for them.

1. FEAR. Confront whatever it is. Most of the time it’s a boogie man that really doesn’t exist.

2. Lethargy. Take Action. Get moving.

3. Lack of Perseverance. Don’t quit. When we start the season, then finish it. What if your favorite team quit in the 4th quarter when they were too far behind to win.

4. Pessimism. It’s easy to be negative. Takes absolutely no effort, no intelligence, no guts.

5. Not taking responsiblity. Blame everyone but yourself? Come on.

6. Choice of friends. If you wrap the other 5 into one package this could be part of the problem/solution. Get away from negative, non-productive, non-doers.

7. No Vision. Clarity and Focus on your Goals will propel us to the success we seek.

Pretty good ideas here:

Develop and reinforce these five habits of success. When you do, you will not have to make new decisions every morning. You instinctively know what you are going to do and how you are going to do it!

1. The habit of POSITIVE THINKING!
Successful people have simply formed the habit of doing what failures do not like to do and will not do: they think positively! They have the habit of expecting to win, the habit of planning to win, the habit of working to win . . . and they win!

2. The habit of PROSPECTING!
Develop this habit and you will have prospects everywhere and you will have an endless supply of Class–A leads.

3. The habit of CALLING ON PEOPLE!
This makes selling fun and exciting — and fruitful!

4. The habit of SELLING!
Use a system or sales presentation. Follow it to a “T”! It will make you a skilled communicator, a person who speaks with emotion and conviction.

5. The habit of WORKING!
Work is a privilege! Work is a joy! It is one of the most exciting things you can do. When you get results, it pumps your adrenalin, gives you more energy, and multiplies more results!

1. Get a clear picture of the future, where you are going. Set your Goals, build your Plan, then go to work on them.

2. Educate yourself. University of automobile. If you want more you gotta be more. What new information will help you become a better you and build your value in the marketplace? Make yourself more valuable to employers and prospects.

3. Commit to your passion, not your paycheck. Get the information required to make it happen. Put your passion behind it!

4. Invest vs. spend. What part don’t you understand? Start with a simple savings account. Discipline yourself to add to it each month, even just a little. Then one day you can buy a small piece of investment real estate, or collectible items or whatever grows in value.

5. Do it! Take Action. You are in charge of the next step. Ok, you are in charge of all steps. No one will do it for you.

Change is simply a part of today’s business climate. Those employees who embrace and initiate change will thrive, while those who complain and fear change may be headed for the unemployment line. Employers feel strongly about the need to have employees who are successful change agents for their team and their organization as a whole.

What is a “change agent?” An agent is someone who represents the interests of another person or organization, and his or her job is to take care of business and make sure everything goes smoothly. A change agent helps take care of an employer’s business by facilitating change. Where do you fit: Are you a change agent for your organization? Can others count on you to make sure things go smoothly? Do you continue to take care of business in the midst of change?

Change can be good, a positive step. Dont’ be the one who assumes a change is negative or bad.

(Connie Podesta published this in an article. I felt it contained solid, direct guidance.)

Gratitude, awe, respect and so many more descriptives come to mind when I salute these sponsors of OPERATION SUCCESS IN ACTION. And another one has joined our ranks! Healy Wholesale Co., Inc.!

They are Patriots, as demonstrated by their support. More than just when the stars are out, they are saying “Thanks for a job well done” to our Heroes. Fayetteville, home-grown Patriots! Take a look at our video link above.

Here are the sponsors to-date. When you see them say “thanks for your commitment!”

(this was retrieved from an article by Heather Huhman, good stuff)

Here are seven tips to get on the right track to building an exceptional brand as an entrepreneur

1. Build your brand with a direction in mind. As an entrepreneur, your personal brand is tied directly to the business or businesses you’ve built. Developing a strong personal brand means positioning yourself in the direction you would–and your business–would like to go. When developing your brand, it’s important to highlight the key attributes and values which you hold close, but don’t forget to let your brand embrace those aspects you hope to attain in the future–like innovation or expert status.

2. Find your niche and dominate. Fitting in isn’t acceptable when it comes to your personal brand. Brand success is often related to the unique aspect which sets you apart from the rest. Defining and projecting what makes your personal brand different will help you stand out from the crowd. If you can’t find a category to stand out in, create your own and dominate it. Your business brand will soon follow.

3. Implement your personal marketing strategy. Gaining recognition and traction for your personal brand is generally done through a carefully planned and well-executed marketing strategy. Similar to the marketing strategy you have for your business, your personal marketing strategy will work to identify and reach your target audience. Your strategy should be as unique as your personal brand and directly work to accomplish the goals you’ve set in place for yourself. Set up ways to measure your success throughout your implementation.

4. Reach expert status. Thought leadership in your space is a clear sign of a strong personal brand. All entrepreneurs should work to leverage their personal brand to reach expert status. Developing traction within your industry can be done in many ways. From teaching workshops to gaining influence on social platforms, your entrepreneurial personal brand should take a variety of approaches to showcasing your expertise.

5. Consistency is key. If you’re looking for long-term success, consistency is the secret ingredient. Developing and maintaining a level of trust with those who matter most to you and your business can be effectively reached through showcasing yourself consistently. Whether it’s online, in print, or face-to-face, prevailing consistency will allow you to gain trusted footing with your personal brand.

6. Get personal. Eliminating the personal and humanistic side of your brand is likely to hurt you in the long run. Brands lacking a personal element aren’t relatable and often come off as cold and serious. These two aspects rarely gain trust. Entrepreneurs looking to personalize their brands should consider portraying a more human image. Networking is a great way to actively showcase your personal side.

7. Be accountable. Brand accountability is crucial in both the good and bad times you are likely to experience throughout your career. This act not only displays your value in honesty, but increases the trust of your target audience. As an entrepreneur, trials and tribulations are common, and consistent honesty is necessary. Overall accountability for your brand and your business will position you for success.

Creating a powerful brand is necessary when you’re competing in a marketplace. Growing your personal brand to expert stature will allow you to build a strong platform from which you can direct your business.